"It's still snowing outside, there is news in the palace, from the night before yesterday to now, the prince has been kneeling outside the warm pavilion, last night's reunion dinner, the prince is kneeling on the ground to eat, the emperor has not let go until now, it is estimated that he will not compromise."

"It's been two days and two nights, and if it continues like this, I'm afraid the prince's body will not be able to bear it."

In the Jinyi Guard's prison, Yang Shiqi's wife was feeding several officials around her while telling everyone about the news in the palace.

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"Alas, it's me who dragged down His Royal Highness the Prince."

Hearing that the prince had been kneeling for two days and two nights, Yang Shiqi had no intention of eating, put down the bowl in his hand, and sat there crying to himself.

The others were silent.

Although they were in the cell, the wind did not blow or rain here, and the prince asked their family to come and see them, and last night the cell was more lively than anywhere else.

To say that they have come to prison to suffer, not to mention that they have been busy for a year and have rested here.

Of course, the unlucky ones who got beaten came out.

"It's really not good, or we..."

One of the officials who felt sorry for the prince gritted his teeth and wanted to admit it, but as soon as he started talking, he shook his head helplessly and closed his mouth.

They feel sorry for the prince from the bottom of their hearts, but the system of the officials and gentry paying grain in one piece is related to the entire group of civil officials and scholars, if they compromise and accept their fate like this, those officials will not only die in vain, but some of them will also be beaten in vain, and they will also be pointed out by thousands of people and scolded by thousands of people.

No one dared to raise this head, let alone respond to it.

"The crown princess has arrived!"

Just when everyone was silent, an angry roar sounded outside the cell, and when the civil officials heard that it was the crown princess coming, they panicked, thinking that something had happened to the crown prince, so they quickly got up and fell to the ground.

"Welcome to the crown princess!"

Zhang walked in angrily, followed by Ji Gang, the commander of the Jinyi Guard.

Zhang, who walked in angrily, looked at all the officials, did not let everyone get up as before, and pointed at the officials in an angry tone: "For you, the prince has been kneeling at the door of the warm pavilion for two days, don't you know what his body looks like?" ”

"Wait for death!"

The officials were ashamed to prostrate on the ground.

"I've never begged anyone in my life, even if I beg you, it's okay to let him go, give our family a way to live, and spare his life."

"What kind of emperor do you want, you choose yourself, choose what you like, let's go, let's go back to Fengyang's hometown, go to the fields to herd cattle, and even go to ask for food."

"I beg you to give our family a way to live, I know that you look down on my son and think he is too cruel. Okay, I'll give you a chance, you go and talk to the emperor now, call all the royal children out, and let whoever you like be the emperor. ”

"Don't dare!"

The civil servants kowtowed repeatedly.

What are you kidding, let them choose the emperor, although this is their dream wish, but just think about it, if you really dare to do this, the old man is afraid that he will cut them all at all costs.

Even the emperor's candidate dared to interfere, he really didn't take his own head seriously.

"What else do you dare not do, for that little money, that little face, you even have to force the prince to death, what good is it for you if he dies, without him to protect you for so many years, the emperor would have killed all of you a long time ago."

"Which time you were punished, it wasn't the prince who rushed to the front and was scolded by the emperor for you."

"When did you anger the emperor, it wasn't he who knelt there to plead for you and saved the lives of your family."

"You still know how to be grateful if you have a cat and a dog, but look at what you have done, you ask yourself, are you worthy of the prince by doing this, and are you worthy of him sacrificing his life to protect you."

Roaring at the officials, Zhang looked at the officials who were kneeling on the ground and didn't dare to say a word, flicked the sleeves of their robes and turned to leave.

Ji Gang glared at the officials viciously, and turned around to send off the crown princess.

"His Royal Highness the Prince, the ministers are ashamed of Jun'en!"

Yang Shiqi looked in the direction of the palace with tears in his eyes, and touched his head to the ground and whimpered in a low voice.

Crying can be contagious, and the officials thought about the prince's good in the past, and thought of the current prince, for them to endure the cold and hunger in the palace, the beating of the violent storm and snow, and the pain in everyone's hearts was like a knife.

From ancient times to the present, there are really very few people who can do this step of the prince.

Such a prince is in line with what they think, and it is what they dream of.

But such a prince was forced to be in a dilemma by them and the emperor.

The more the officials thought about it, the more ashamed they became, and many of them began to secretly shed tears of sincere remorse from the corners of their eyes.

Zhang returned to the palace angrily, and when he arrived at the door of the warm pavilion, Zhu Fatpang returned to his position and knelt down.

"Next time there is such a thing, let's not get involved, you don't know what your body looks like, this is the New Year's Day, and you won't let it go for a day."

"I knew that this year would be like this, so our family might as well spend the New Year in Beiping, so there wouldn't be so many bad things."

When he came to Zhu Fatpang's side, Zhang complained angrily.

"Okay, okay, it's just this time, it's time to lose weight on a diet, besides, this thing can't be hidden, sooner or later it will come out."

Zhu Chupang looked around and whispered to comfort Zhang.

"How's going on over there?"

Seeing that he was surrounded by his own people, Zhu Fatpang hurriedly asked his wife how the performance was?

"Okay." Zhang rolled his eyes angrily, "They were all crying when I left, I guess they are uncomfortable now." ”

"That's fine!" Zhu Chupang nodded with satisfaction, and waved to a staircase in the distance.

Zhu Zhangui, who was hiding behind the stairs, replied to the received gesture, tidied up his clothes, went around in a circle, and strode up.

"Dad, let's go, we don't care if they live or die, there are many people in the world who want to be officials, and they are not bad."

Walking to Zhu Fatpang's side, Zhu Zhangui saw the Jinyi guard guarding the guard, and after signaling that the informant had been released, he deliberately amplified his voice and said these words when a group of eunuchs and palace maids walked by with trays walking by.

"Ahem..."

Zhu Chubby, who had powdered on his face, glanced at a few eunuchs who deliberately slowed down and reprimanded Zhu Zhangui.

"Say... Say... What kind of bastard, all the ministers are the pillars of the court, and the court is indispensable, even if I kneel and die here today, I have to protect them. ”

Waiting for the little eunuchs and palace maids to slowly walk away, Zhu Fat saw that the performance was almost over, so he said to Zhu Zhangui: "Hurry up and find your grandfather, my legs are numb, it's almost enough, and the performance will be too much." ”

Zhu Zhangui nodded hurriedly, and said a few words to Zhu Fatpang pretending to be a few words, before rushing into the warm pavilion with a roar.

After a while, the old man's roar came from the room, and at the same time, the sound of various things falling to the ground was heard.

Half an hour later, Zhu Zhangui walked out with a sigh of relief.

Glancing at the guards and eunuchs who had been replaced, Zhu Zhangui breathed a sigh of relief and said to Zhu Chupang: "Grandpa Huang has already relented, he said it, for your sake, give those officials a chance." ”

"But the royal family can't lose face, so it's impossible to take back the fate, but there is a compromise."

Zhu Chubby, who pretended to be weak, hurriedly asked.

"What a compromise!"

Zhu Zhangui stretched out his hand to support Zhu Chupang, and said quickly: "Grandpa said, it is impossible to take back the order, but it can be changed, in the name of the test, the original national implementation of the official gentry is one grain, changed to half of the national land test implementation, and try it for a few years to see how the effect is, if there is too much problem, then make changes." ”

"With the Huai River as the boundary, it is divided into north and south, and it is up to the officials to decide how to choose."

"But officials, as representatives of the world, are not included in the north and south, and must strictly implement the policies of the imperial court."

"There is also the military service system, which cannot be changed, and the officials are no longer allowed to object, otherwise even if you kneel to death, there is no room for negotiation."

"Alas!"

Zhu Fatpang sighed after hearing this, "This can only be done, I hope all the ministers can accept it." ”

"You go and ask, I'll wait here, tell the officials, don't be influenced by me and make a rash decision, I'm in good health, and I can carry it for another two days, cough cough cough..."

As soon as Zhu Chupang said a few words, he suddenly coughed, rolled his eyes, and his body fell down.

"Daddy... Father... Daddy..."

Zhu Zhangui hugged Zhu Chupang and shouted anxiously, and at the same time turned his head angrily and yelled at the guards who were cocking their ears and listening to the news.

"Why are you still stunned? Hurry up and pass the imperial doctor! ”

After a period of panic, Zhu Fatpang was rescued by the imperial doctor, and then knelt at the door of the warm pavilion despite everyone's obstruction.

In Zhu Chuangpang's words, things didn't work out, he couldn't leave, and he couldn't leave until both parties made a decision.

The informants of those officials were very fast, and when Zhu Zhangui was waiting for the imperial doctor with his father, those informants found an opportunity to spread the news.

In the cells, the officials looked worried.

According to their informants, the emperor had softened his tone at the begging of His Royal Highness the Grand Sun, and decided not to implement the integrated payment of grain by the officials and gentry throughout the country, but to choose half of the country for a trial period of several years.

As for which half of the officials and gentry will pay the grain in one piece, the emperor did not say, but just asked His Royal Highness Taisun to come over and tell them the emperor's decision, so that they can decide for themselves.

This is obviously not to take this scolded name, and kicked this rotten ball and this notoriety to them.

And put down the words, if the civil officials don't agree like this, it is useless for the prince to kneel to death, which is obviously forcing them to make a decision quickly.

And according to the informant, the prince's body can no longer bear it, and he has passed out several times, each time he was woken up by someone, and he came back and continued to kneel.

They know the prince's body, and if they come like this a few more times, I'm afraid they really don't have to wait for the prince to ascend the throne the year after tomorrow, and they can prepare for the state funeral.

Is it really like Hong Wunian, who has lost another benevolent prince?

If it is really like that, I am afraid that the emperor will pave the way for the emperor's grandson, and there will definitely be several rounds of purges, and they will definitely be the unlucky ones at that time.

After all, without them making this stubble, the prince would not have left so early, so that the emperor, like his father, experienced the experience of sending a white-haired person to a black-haired person.

"Everyone, His Royal Highness Taisun is coming, how are you thinking about it?"

Yang Shiqi took the lead in speaking and asking.

"We can't go on like this anymore, we can bear it, but the prince can't bear it, if the prince has three longs and two shorts, we won't even have a chance to change in the future."

Yang Pu also expressed his thoughts.

"In my opinion, if you don't forget it like this, the emperor has already given the steps, let's borrow the donkey from the slope, and then don't give the emperor a son, and if this stalemate continues, don't mention the emperor's anger, I'm afraid the prince's body won't be able to support it."

"But the question is which half to choose, south or north. Even if we make a decision, will the people on that side accept such an outcome? If it is not handled well, it will be a troublesome matter, and we will not be able to do well, and we will be scolded by others. ”

"Hmph, what if you don't accept it, who are we risking our lives to make trouble with the emperor? Is it for yourself? It's not all for them. ”

"You don't know the emperor's character, to get to this point, it all depends on the prince's life, otherwise a few years ago, we wouldn't even have a chance to stalemate, and the emperor probably would have sent troops down to enforce it forcibly."

"It's true, let's just wait a few years, pay this money and give face to the prince, which side will pay the money at that time, and which side will admit more people when you go back to the imperial examination, which can be regarded as compensation."

The officials discussed for a while, and finally decided to take the steps given by the emperor.

Divide the north and south with the Huai River, and then choose one side to implement the policy of the imperial court, and the other side continues to do the same as before, without making any changes.

They just spent money to eliminate disasters in the past few years, and when the emperor is gone, the crown prince has completely stabilized the throne, and they are thinking about changing things.

It's only a few years before and after, and it's gone by gritting your teeth.

But which side to choose has become a headache for everyone.

If you choose the north, the officials in the north will not do it, and if you choose the south, the officials in the south will not agree.

For this choice, the two parties quarreled endlessly through the fence of the cell, and even a few grumpy ones almost staged a full martial arts.

No one wants their side to suffer, and they don't want to be scolded by others in the future.

Zhu Zhangui, who was outside the cell, smiled with satisfaction when he heard the quarrel inside.

Originally, he thought that he would have to talk about these donkeys before he came over, but he didn't expect that before he arrived, the people here began to discuss which half.

After listening outside for a long time, seeing that there was really no noise inside, Zhu Zhangui coughed and walked in.

"See His Royal Highness Taisun!"

The officials who were arguing hurriedly bowed.

"I didn't come in just now, but I heard you arguing, and you guys are very well informed."

Everyone was embarrassed.

What the emperor just decided, before the person who conveyed it came, they knew it, and fools knew that they had an inside line in the palace.

It seems that new informants will be prepared, and the old batch is estimated to be purged.

"Now that you all know, I won't talk nonsense."

Sitting on the chair brought by Jin Yiwei, Zhu Zhangui looked at everyone with a serious expression.

"You all know the emperor's bottom line, this is what my father bought with his life, don't think about continuing to oppose it, just accept it when you see it, if you continue to make trouble like this, everyone will not be able to get over it."

"Wait for the order!"

Since everyone has already decided, they did not insist anymore.

After all, the crown prince is still kneeling there, and if they delay for a while, the prince's body will be at more risk.

"Your Royal Highness, we have all agreed to the solution proposed by His Majesty, but we can't make a decision for a while, whether it is south or north, can you ask the emperor if he has any thoughts in this regard."

An official stepped forward and wanted to kick the offended ball back to the Royals.

Zhu Zhangui glared at him angrily, "You are also the ministers of the humerus of the imperial court, all of you have important positions, and you can't even decide the trivial matter of this sesame mung bean, how do you become an official." ”

This hot potato, the royal family can't see it, and finally spilled this basin of dirty water, and the ghost will pick it up.

The officials were worried.

Seeing that as long as everyone decides, the emperor will make a decree, and everyone can go back, but they just can't decide the result.

Again, no one wants to do sinners, who decides who is unlucky in this matter, and will even be written into books or biographies by those literati who are going to be collected and taxed, smeared for a lifetime, and have a bad reputation through the ages, so no one dares to pick on this head.

Even the three of Sanyang are now squinting slightly and pretending to be thinking, without the slightest idea of expressing their opinions.

Dad is still kneeling there, and he still has a lot of things to prepare, after all, he will go to North Korea in a few days, and Zhu Zhangui doesn't have so much time to spend with these people.

"I have an idea, I don't know if you'd like to hear it."

The tense atmosphere was instantly relaxed, and everyone looked at Zhu Zhangui and bowed, "Please instruct Your Highness." ”

Zhu Zhangui hurriedly waved his hand, "I'm just a little grandson, but I don't have that much right to help you make decisions." ”

Everyone was helpless.

No one is stupid, and no one dares to take this mess.

Zhu Zhangui got up slowly, walked to the side of several important ministers and whispered: "The Southern Confucian family has been writing to the imperial court, wanting to take over the position of Yan Shenggong, and after thinking about and observing, the imperial grandfather found that they are indeed good, and there has been a change in this. I heard that the head of the Nan Kong family is in Jinling, and you may be able to convey this good news to them so that they can be happy as well. ”

After speaking, Zhu Zhangui gave a few people a look that you understand, reached out and patted Yang Shiqi's shoulder, and turned to leave.

Yang Shiqi and the others looked at each other as they looked at the distant backs, and finally Yang Shiqi gritted his teeth and said to a brocade guard: "Trouble this brother, please ask the head of the Nankong family to come here, if he wants to ask for any reason, you can tell him, we have persuaded the emperor to give them the title of Yansheng Duke." ”

Dead friends, immortal poor friends.

The reputation of the old Kong family is so stinky, and it is not bad this time or twice, if you want the title of the Holy Duke, what you don't pay, the emperor promised us and didn't agree.

The speed of the civil official group was very fast, and less than half an hour after Zhu Zhangui left, Jin Yiwei sent a joint concert.

The old man couldn't help but sneer when he looked at the words of the officials pleading guilty and the large list of names on the suffix.

Soon the crown prince Zhu Chubby, who was still trembling when he walked, went to the cell with a pale face and took the holy decree and announced the content of pardoning all civil officials.

Of course, a full pardon is not an acquittal.

Contradicting the monarch, if he is released so easily, the emperor will not lose face.

All these officials were fined for one year, and Yang Shiqi, a few leading elders, was directly demoted by one level, but the imperial court could not select someone to replace them for a while, so they temporarily held their current positions.

A conflict that almost shook the country's foundation ended in this way under the performances of the crown prince Zhu Chubby, the princess and the old man.

In this conflict, if you want to say that the one who suffers the most, it is Zhu Fatpang.

After all, he was the main performer, and the others were just helping.

But then again, Zhu Fatpang is the crown prince, and he will be the new emperor of the Ming Empire in two years, and this time he should be a celebration before ascending the throne.

The things decided by the imperial court were executed very quickly.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the imperial court's proclamation was sent to all parts of the country, stipulating that it should be announced to the world before February.

There are three contents in this announcement.

The first is the issue of the reform of military households, which is nothing to dispute, and no one cares about this issue except for military households.

According to the above writing, the Southern Confucian Jiayan Shenggong wrote to the imperial court, in order to show the heart of the people to serve the country, and proposed that the imperial court should pay the grain as a whole. He also proposed that the implementation of the whole country was too sudden, and that it could be implemented in one region first, and even proposed in the end that the area north of the Huai River should be tested first, and then spread to the whole world if feasible.

Out of respect for the Kong family, the emperor didn't even consider Yan Shenggong's proposal, and directly agreed.

That is to say, starting from this year, under the suggestion of Yan Shenggong, all the meritorious people of the gentry clan north of the Huai River must pay taxes and serve the imperial court like ordinary people.

Good guys, the old man and the civil officials are also shameless enough, in order not to leave a stench for thousands of years, they directly pushed everything on the head of the old Kong family.

It was even stated in the proclamation that even the policy of the official gentry paying grain in one body was proposed by the Confucian family, and the emperor agreed to come down and experiment out of respect for the Confucian sage.

The third policy is that starting this year, all men over the age of 16 and under the age of 20, whether rich or poor, or the children of aristocratic officials, will be required to serve in the army for two years.

As for the promise that the old man promised that he could use money to pay for military service, naturally he would not write it on the surface.

This kind of thing, people who should know will naturally know it, and it is useless for people who shouldn't know it.

When these three policies were officially announced to the world, it caused an uproar in the world.

Naturally, the military households cheered and celebrated happily their children and grandchildren, no longer limited by the shackles of military households.

The meritorious and famous men and gentry of the south, while secretly glad that they did not have to pay taxes, looked at the third policy with a bitter face.

Of course, those who are bitter are about to become adults, and those who have passed the age of 20 do not need to serve according to the regulations of the imperial court.

The reason why this age group is set is because if all adults are available, the army of the Ming Dynasty will increase by at least a few million this year.

Millions of troops, not to mention weapons and equipment, can make Xia Yuanji cry just by eating.

In fact, Zhu Zhangui set this age stage, and the main thing was to change the thinking of the people themselves.

Those men over the age of 20 have already fixed their minds, and it is impossible to change their minds in two years.

At this time, it is still very feasible for men who have just become adults to change some of their thinking by letting them enter the army and use the surrounding atmosphere and patriotic thoughts to change some of their thinking.

"Be careful, you are not allowed to rush to the front again, do you hear?"

At Jinan Railway Station, Zhu Zhangui jumped out of the car with an escort.

Zhang, who was not at ease, shouted loudly.

Zhao Ling'er and the others were also full of worry, their eyes were reluctant, and they looked at Zhu Zhangui who waved goodbye to them.

"I see, I'm in the back this time."

Waving at his mother, Zhu Zhangui bowed to the old man who was standing at the window watching him, turned around and got on the horse that had been prepared a long time ago, and took the escort to Weihaiwei, where the troops were assembled.

Walking out of the train station, looking at the land of Shandong where everything has recovered and regained its vitality, Zhu Zhangui looked up at the east: "I'm here again for a small day, this time we have time to play." ”

This time, Zhu Zhangui didn't plan to stay.

It's time for the country of the little gourd to fall.